Device for determining elevations



Sept. 15, 1942.

J.LAURENCELLE DEVICE FOR DETERMINING ELEVATIONS AND LEVELS 2 Shets-Sheet 1 Filed April 7, 1941 INVENTOR.

JOHN LAu %{MQ RENCELLE Arr Sept. 15, 1942.

DEVICE FOR DETERMINING ELEVATIONS AND LEVELS J. LAURENCELLE 2,295,957

Filed A ril 7; 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOK JoH/v LAURENCELLE;

a ATTO EY.

Patented Sept. 15, 1942 s PATENT OFFICE DE ICE Eon DETERMINING ELEVATIONS AND LEVELS John Laurencelle, Vallejo, Calif. Application April '7, 1941, Serial No. 387,155

Claims.

This invention relates to a device for determining elevations and levels.

The object of this invention is to provide a device of the type described whereby the elevations of various parts of a structure may be easily determined, and checked up without doing the actual measuring.

Another object of this invention is to provide a device of the type described in which all the elevations of the various parts of the structure are calculated and marked on a master board, whence they are transferred by hydraulicmeans to the points the elevation of whichis desirable to determine or to check up. V

Still another object of this invention is to provide an inexpensive and reliable device .of the type described which is easy to operate and main- .tain,'and which gives accurate, speedyxand foolproof readings of the elevation of various. parts of a structure.

.One embodiment of. the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic plan view showing two hulls and ageneral arrangement of. the device constructed in accordance with the teaching of this invention.

. Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic side view of the Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic cross-sectional View on the line 3-3 of the Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a front view of a master gauge of the device. a a

Fig. 5 is a section on the line 5-'5 of the Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is a front view of a portable gauge. Fig. '7 isa side elevation of a portable gauge. Fig. 8 is a section on the line 8 -8 of the Fig. 6. Fig. 9 is a modified form of a portable gauge, and

Fig. 10 is a section on the line H] of the Fig. 4.

In the drawings and the specification I have Show my device as being applied for the construction of ships. It should be understood that the same may be used withequal success in the construction of other structures, such as airplanes, building's, machinery, etc., and I do not wish to limit the use of my device to the con struction of ships only, and in the claims following this specification I desire to cover the invention in whatsoever form it may be embodied and for whatever use it may be applied. v

My device may be used on two, or more, ships constructed alongside of each other. It consists of a number of stations I, constructedbetween the two adjacent building ways, preferably from '50 to '75 feet apart from each other. The number of the stations depends upon the length of the hulls to be built.

As all the stations are similar, the description of one will sufiice.

Each station I has a master gauge 2, which is preferably arranged between the ships A and B, and two pairs of portable gauges 3, one pair being used on each ship.

Each master gauge 2 consists of a frame 4 having a backing member 5 and two side members 6 and 1 secured to the member 5 in spaced relation to each other. A glass tube 8 is secured between said side members and extends practically the whole length of the frame 4. I provide two master boards l0 and l l which are fixedly secured to said side members 6 and I. The board II is preferably so secured as to cover partially the opening between said side members. On the board It are carefully marked the elevations of various points, lines, frames, supports, etc. of the ship A and the board H is similarly marked for the ship B.

It should be noted that the ships are constructed on building ways at a certain declivity so as to obtain the best possible launching conditions. This results in each frame station being at diiferent height in space owing to said declivity. Hence, compensation should be made therefor by marking on the master boards l0 and H- of the stations I the elevations of various frame stations in their true relative position.

Furthermore, due to the fact that the base line is built on a declivity, all the frame members are set at an angle to the vertical line, which angle is equal to the angle of declivity, and all distances which are given from the base line upward along or parallel to said frame members,

should be corrected for true vertical measurement by multiplying the same by the cosine of 401 the angle of the declivity. .This also must .be taken care of in calculating the respective elevations of various points of the ships.

Between the master boards 10 and H is arranged a sliding compensated scale I5. It carries two or more guides 16 adapted to'slidelin a groove l'l formed by the side member 6., and a guide plate l9. By means of this arrangement, the sliding scale I5 is movable in parallel relation to the master boards Ill and II. For the purpose of convenience, a handle 20 is provided on the scale 15. Means for locking the scale H5 at any point on the board II] is provided in. form of a bolt 21 and a wing nut 22. The scale 15 also carries a pointer 24, the top of which coincides with the zero mark on said scale. It should be noted that the scale I is preferably graduated in inches and in fractions of an inch multiplied by the cosine of the angle of declivity and for that reason is called compensated scale.

A movable scale is provided on the sliding scale [5, which consists of an abutment 26 having a groove 21, into which the edge of the scale I 5 is admitted, and a scale portion 28 proper upon which is preferably marked a compensated inch graduated in compensated fractions thereof. The scale 25 slides between the edge of the scale 55 and the edge of the master board H and may be held in any desired position on said scale l5 by a stop screw 29. It shculdbe noted-that the abutment 26 extends to the glass tube 8 and, having a fiat level top, permits the exactadiustmerit of the liquid level in the tube 8 in relation to said top of the scale 25. The graduated fractions of an inch on the scale 25 and inch marks on the scale l5 combined permit a minute selection of a desired liquid level in the tube f8.

The size of the master gauge 1 depends upon the height of a ship to be built and is usually somewhat higher than the latter so as to take care of all the vertical dimensions of the same. The master gauges I are resting on foundations 3i and are securely supported by special frames, not shown in the drawings, having a number of observation platforms. Themaster boards) and H are fixedly attached to the side members 6 and 1 and their positions are not disturbed unless careful measurements show that the same have changed from some cause.

It is usually necessary to connect several lengths of glass tubes-togetherbysuitable rubber hose or other connections in-order to build up a glass tube 8 to the proper height. The bottom of the glass tube 8 has a hose or azpipe connected thereto and having a shut-off valve 36. The pipe 35 is connected to a main water supply pipe 31, common to all stations I, by a pipe .38 having a valve by means of which water from-the pipe 37 may be admitted into the glass tube 8. A needle valve 43 is also connected with the pipe 35 by means of a pipe 44, through which valve water from the glass tube 8 may be controllably bled out.

The pipe 35 is connected by a pipe 45 and preferably rubber hoses 46 to a air of portable gauges 3. The pipe 45 has valves 41 by means of which the passage of water to said portable gauges may be opened or restricted. Each portable gauge 3 comprises a glass tube 50, supported in a frame 5 I. The latter consists of two halves 52 having a central window 53 through which the glass tube is observed. The upper and lower portions of the frame halves 52 are adapted to clamp the rubber hose connections 54 on the glass tube thus holding the latter. The frame halves 52 are held together by brackets :55, 56, 5! and 58. The bracket 55 is elongated and has a tapered top 66, and a hole 6| therein. A valve 62 is inserted between the glass tube 50 and the rubber hose 46.

A pipe 65 and rubber hoses 66 connect the pipe 35 with the portable gauges 3 used on the ship B. As it has been stated, the master gauge I is usually of a considerable height and may have several platforms therearound for the convenience of operation. Therefore, reach rods 68 and 69 extending practically all the height of the master gauge are provided for convenient manipulation of the valves 40 and 43 respectively, so that an operator being on any one of said platforms may openor close either of .said valves .down coincides with the scale l5.

portable gauges 3 are brought in close without any outside assistance and without leaving said platform.

The operation of the device is as follows:

Suppose a frame member II is to be secured to the hull of the ship A, and its position is marked on the drawing as ten and three sixteenths inches above the level of the frame number fifty nine. In this case the compensated scale I5 is moved upwardly until the pointer 24 is set exactly opposite the elevation mark for said frame number fifty nine, and the movable scale 25 is so adjusted on the scale l5 that the graduation corresponding to three sixteenths from the top of the scale 25 ten inch mark on the The top of the scale 25 is then exactly ten and three sixteenths inches from the level mark of the frame number fifty nine. Then the proximity to the frame member H raised to approximate elevation and temporarily secured to a some fixed member. Thereafter the valve 40 is opened as well as the valves 36, 41 and 62. Water is-allowed to fill the master gauge tube 8, the pipe-and hose connections between said tube 8 and the tubes 50, and the latter tube until the water level in the tube 8 is slightlyabove the top of the movable scale 25. Thereupon the valve 40 is securely closed by means of the reach rod-68. If desired, the positions of the portable gauges 3 may beadjusted now. Thereafter, the needle valve 43 is opened and water is bled out until-the water level in the glass tube 8 reaches exactly the top of the movable scale 25. The water level in the portable gauges will show the correct vertical position of the frame 1 I.

In order to facilitate the comparing of the water level in the tube 56 with the level of frame members and other points as well as to facilitate the transferring of the level in said tube on said members, a spring clamp 15 having straight ends 16, is provided. The'clamp I5 is adjusted on the glass tube 50 so that its top coincides with the water level and its ends 16 are directed to the frame member to be set. The sight is taken along the top of said clamp, thus assuring great accuracy in determining the vertical position of said member.

Preferably two portable gauges l5 are usedsimultaneously because in addition to giving the exact vertical position, they also permit to level a frame member or may be otherwise instrumental in fixing the lateral position of the same.

Another pair of portable gauges 3 is used on .the ship B in which case the marks on the master board II are used. By providing two pairs of portable gauges 3 in combination with one master gauge 2, the necessity of providing a separate set of master gauges 2 for the ship B is eliminated.

The position of a point on a bottom or other places may be checked up by abutting the tapered top 60 of the portable gauge 3 against said points and holding said gauge in vertical position, as shown in Fig. 3. In this case, the water level'in the master gauge 2 is set a certain distance below the mark corresponding to the vertical elevation of said'point. The length of the bracket 55 being ranged between the brackets 55 and 58 as shown in Fig. 9. The off-set in the water level in the master gauge 2 should be equal to the distance between the top of the bracket 55 and the water level in the portable gauge 3.

The base line of a ship may be established withfixed master gauge out reference to surveying by setting the first master gauge in reference to a known bench mark gauge, the preceding valve 11, is closed, and the excess of the water is bled out through the valve 43.

The variation of temperatures may affect the exactness of reading, but the same may be avoided by changing water in the device from time to time, or by correcting the level indicated by the portable gauges for the contraction or expansion of water according to the Well known tables of expansion of a water column under various temperature conditions.

I claim:

1. A device of the type described comprising a plurality of stations; each station including a fixed master gauge having a stationary master board with a plurality of elevation marks thereon which are to be transferred to points distant from said master gauge, a plurality of portable gauges associated with each master gauge and having tube connections therebetween; said stations being connected with a liquid supply pipe; each station having valves for opening and closing the passage of liquid from liquid supply pipe to the gauges, and a valve for controllably bleeding liquid out of the same.

2. A device of the type described comprising a plurality of stations; each station including a having a stationary master board with a plurality of elevation marks thereon which are to be transferred to points distant from said master gauge; a plurality of portable gauges associated with each master gauge and having tube connections therebetween; said stations being connected with a liquid supply pipe; each station having valves for opening and closing the passage of liquid from liquid supply pipe to the gauges, and a valve for controllably bleeding liquid out of the same; and valves in said liquid supply pipe permitting intercommunication between the two or more adjacent stations,

3. A device of the type described comprising a plurality of stations; each station including a fixed master gauge having a stationary master board with a plurality of elevation marks thereon which are to be transferred to points distant from said master board, and a transparent liquid holding tube in near proximity thereto, a plurality of portable gauges movable to the points to which said elevation marks are to be transferred, liquid holding tubes extending from the lower end of said transparent tube to the lower end of said portable gauges; said stations being connected to a liquid supply pipe; each station having valves for opening and closing the passage of liquid from liquid supply pipes to said gauges, and a valve for controllably bleeding liquid out of the same.

4. A device of the type described, comprising a system of stations; each station consisting of a fixed master gauge, having a stationary master board with a plurality of elevation marks thereon which are to be transferred to points distant from said master board, and a transparent liquid holding tube in near proximity thereto, a plurality of portable gauges movable to the points to which said elevation marks are to be transferred, liquid holding tubes extending from the lower end of said portable gauges; said stations being connected to a main pipe, each station having valves for opening and closing the passage of liquid from the master gauge to said main pipe so that any two or more stations may be put into communication; and valves for controllably bleeding liquid from each of the master gauges.

5. A device of the type described, comprising a system of stations; each station consisting of a fixed master gauge, having a stationary master board with a plurality of elevation marks thereon which are to be transferred to points distant from said master board, and a transparent liquid holding tube in near proximity thereto, a plurality of portable gauges movable to the points to which said elevation marks are to be transferred, liquid holding tubes extending from the lowerend of said transparent tube to the lower end of said portable gauges; said stations being interconnected so as to put any two or more stations into communication; and means for bringing the liquid level in said transparent tubes to a desired elevation. 

